INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN MAKKAH SOON

The Shoura Council on April 25 unanimously agreed to set up an international airport outside the holy city, Makkah. The Council took the decision when the annual report of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) was tabled at the eighth ordinary session of the Shoura Council held under the aegis of Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh. In a statement after the session, Secretary General of the Council Mohammed Al-Ghamdi said that the decision to set up an airport in Makkah was taken after detailed discussions on the comments and observations made by the council’s Transport Communications and Information Technology Committee on the annual GACA report. Al-Ghamdi said the house suggested that the proposed international airport in Makkah region be located outside the Haram area to allow both Muslims and non-Muslims to travel to the region. A large number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims are expected to benefit from the proposed facility.